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How to Disagree Without Being Disagreeable: 7 Tips for Having More Productive Discussions by HubSpot

In our professional lives, we may not agree every time with others. Sometimes, we may be right, sometime we are wrong. But overall, it’s not because we disagree that we need to be “disagreeable”. This post from HubSpot goes over 7 tips to agree to disagree without being nasty. Those 7 advices are:

Be mindful of your tone. No need to get angry, your ideas can go their own way by respecting other people’s idea. No need to yell or shout, stay courteous.

Don’t use “you” statements. You do not want to judge the person, but to challenge her ideas. No need to point finger at the other party by using “you”.

Avoid filler words or hesitant phrases. In other words: be brief, be bright, be gone!

Do your research. Want to make a point? Facts, facts, facts. Less stories, more tangible facts.

Don’t get personal. As with point number two, don’t point finger, don’t fill pointed finger at. Stay at idea and fact level.

Be mindful of your body language. You mouth say something, but your body may say the opposite. Align yourself mentally and physically.

Know your non-negotiables. Do not compromise on something you truly believe in, it will bite back later.

This may seem common sense to many people, and yes, it is, but common sense is unfortunately lost this days too frequently. So next time, you disagree and want to find the right decision for both parties, have a look at those seven advices and… good luck!